Von Delany Mizell (1910–1973) was the second black physician in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and since at that time Fort Lauderdale's hospitals would not accept "colored" patients, he helped establish Provident Hospital for black residents. He staged sit-ins and protests, boycotted Fort Lauderdale’s " Colored School", and successfully sued the Broward County Medical Association for admittance. He started the first NAACP chapter in South Florida. He was also involved in efforts to provide a beach for black residents to use and to desegregate Broward County's other beaches. [1] [2] [3]: 25–26
Legacy
- The site of Provident Hospital, which has been torn down, is occupied by a community center, the Von D. Mizell Community Center, owned by the city of Fort Lauderdale.
- On July 1, 2016, John U. Lloyd Beach State Park was renamed the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in honor of civil rights efforts undertaken by Mizell and Johnson during segregation. [4]
Ethel Mizell Pappy Collection
Von D. Mizell's sister Ethel Mizell Pappy's personal family papers are housed at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL. [5]
References
- ^ "South Florida Times". www.sfltimes.com. Archived from the original on 2010-09-05. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
- ^ "Rev. Edward T. Graham and Dr. Von D. Mizell: Two Local Legends Made History in South Florida". South Florida Times. February 4, 2016.
- ^ McCarthy, Kevin M. (2007). African American Sites in Florida. Pineapple Press. ISBN 978-1561643851.
- ^ Geggis, Anne. "John U. Lloyd State Park ready to change name, share civil rights history".
- ^ "AARLCC Special Collection | Broward County Library".
Further reading
- Boehnlein, Kathy (2014). "How beaches of Broward County were finally desegregated". shineonsfl.com. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
- Mizell, Don (December 14, 2011). "Mizell more fitting name for historic beach". Sun-Sentinel.
- Beatty, Robert (February 25, 2011). "Pioneering Mizell Family's History Spans 100 Years". South Florida Times.